A pedestrian tragedy occurred in Van Buren County, where a 78-year-old man from Lawton lost his life after being struck by a vehicle while walking in the roadway early yesterday morning. According to FOX 17, the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office responded to the incident on County Road 657, near Two Oaks Circle, at approximately 4:20 a.m., where they pronounced the man dead at the scene.
The area in question was closed for subsequent investigation, which lasted about four hours and involved the Lawton Fire Department, Van Buren County Emergency Medical Services, and the Paw Paw Police Department, deputies have said that the man was not wearing any reflective clothing and appeared to have been walking well into the travel lane when the northbound car hit him. WOODTV reports that County Road 657 was blocked off between 62nd Avenue and Drape Road as crews worked on the scene of the accident.
In the aftermath of the accident, the driver, who has not been identified, is reportedly cooperating with law enforcement to unravel the details of this early morning event. WWMT notes that the incident remains under investigation by the sheriff's office, which is working to determine the precise cause of the collision, a process undoubtedly mired in complexity given the deceased's lack of reflective attire and presence in the travel lane.
